With deadline approaching, some Portland elections still without contests, candidates

News

With deadline approaching, some Portland elections still without contests, candidates

PORTLAND — Nomination papers became available more than six weeks ago, but so far there are few potential candidates for the School Committee and no one has shown interest in either of the two seats available on the Peaks Island Council.

Share

Sponsor

Three School Committee seats are up for grabs in the Nov. 3 elections, and each one has attracted only one contender.

Two Peaks Island Council members, Bob Hurley and Mike Langella, decided to step down from the council a year before their terms were up. The council is taking steps to encourage residents to serve.

Peaks Island Councilor Lynne Richard, in a July 27 e-mail, said the council is considering reducing the number of meetings, scheduling workshops only when needed and not holding public dialog sessions every month. She said the council hopes the modifications will encourage island residents to run.

On the mainland, Vesper Street resident Jenna Vendil has taken out papers for the district 1 School Committee seat, which is being vacated by Rebecca Minnick. Edward Bryan of Cushman Street in the West End pulled papers for the District 2 seat, and Sarah Thompson is seeking re-election as an at-large member of the board.

In contrast, City Council elections could supply voters with choices.

In District 1, Councilor Kevin Donoghue is seeking a second term. Charles Bragdon, a Munjoy Hill resident, has taken out nomination papers for the seat, along with Paul Farrell, a Monument Street resident who recently ran unsuccessfully for the Charter Commission.

Councilor David Marshall is the only contender so far in District 2. Marshall is seeking a second term on the council.

Councilor Nick Mavodones is seeking a fourth term as an at-large councilor. Three other residents have also taken out papers to challenge Mavodones: John M. Woods IV of Orange Street, Anna Collins of Concord Street and Sally Lyden of Cumberland Avenue.

Kenneth Levinsky is so far the only person to take out nomination papers to serve the remaining year of the Portland Water District term vacated by Matt Sinclair, who moved out of the city.

Nomination papers are available at the city clerk's office and must be returned by Monday, Aug. 24. Candidates seeking district seats need to collect 75 signatures. At-large candidates have to turn in 300. All the offices, with the exception of the water district seat, are for three-year terms.